YMCA in Elizabeth City a Community Effort
albemarle family ymca, bill taylor, college of the albemarle, community, elizabeth city, recreation,
When the long-awaited Albemarle Family YMCA opened its doors in December 2003‚ it represented more than just a much-needed physical fitness outlet for the residents of Elizabeth City.
It was an innovative‚ collaborative approach to community wellness.
The YMCA‚ the first in Elizabeth City‚ arose through a partnership with the parent YMCA of South Hampton Roads‚ College of The Albemarle and Albemarle Hospital.
“ It’s unique to put a school‚ hospital and Y all under one roof‚” says Rusty Youmans‚ vice president for financial development for YMCA of South Hampton Roads‚ which serves northeastern North Carolina and coastal Virginia.
The hospital leases 3‚000 feet in the 47‚000-square-foot facility for its wellness center. College students use the gym space for activities‚ and college faculty have physical education office space on site.
The idea for a YMCA didn’t develop overnight. The initial drive began some six years earlier by the late Mary Mueller. After her death‚ the torch was carried by local businessman Bill Taylor.
Youmans says it didn’t take long for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads to jump on board‚ especially since Elizabeth City was considered a perfect site for such a facility.
“ Whenever we’re going to put a few million into the ground‚ we put a few thousand into a study‚” Youmans says. “It came back hugely successful.”
A capital campaign raised more than $675‚000 toward the project‚ with the YMCA borrowing the rest based on the optimistic study.
And even before the first patron broke a sweat‚ membership sales showed that the study was on target. More than 500 memberships‚ representing more than 1‚200 members‚ were sold in advance of the opening.
The community was surely enticed by the array of amenities‚ equipment and programs being offered‚ says Tom Blekicki‚ executive director of the Albemarle Family YMCA.
The facility features an indoor‚ six-lane‚ 25-meter pool; whirlpool and saunas; spinning and aerobics studios; a children’s play area; a child-care center; a multipurpose room; and a children’s game room. More than 5‚000 square feet of fitness space occupies the second floor.
That space features the latest advances in fitness‚ from the largest cardiovascular strength training area in the YMCA of South Hampton Roads system to the computerized Fit Quest program that allows members to monitor personal fitness regimens.
Additionally‚ a range of programs‚ lessons and activities for members – from tots to teens to senior citizens – is available‚ Blekicki says.
“ I think it’s going to be one of the best things that’s ever happened in this city‚” he says.
Albemarle Family YMCA is located at 1240 N. Road St. in Elizabeth City.
Story by Dan Markham
Photo by Anthony Boshier
